Project SEARCH training program moves downtown

The 2025/26 class graduating from Project SEARCH Toronto will be the last full cohort trained at Holland Bloorview and the University Health Network’s (UHN) Lyndhurst Centre and Toronto Rehab Rumsey Centre. The program is moving to train students primarily at UHN’s Toronto General Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Toronto Rehab University Centre. The program’s new classroom will be based at the Mitchener Institute for Education at UHN.

“We’ve been planning this transition for several years,” explains Jenn Lill, Toronto District School Board’s (TDSB) Project SEARCH Toronto teacher. “The size and activity levels at the busy downtown hospital sites will give our students a wide variety of training opportunities to learn skills needed in Toronto’s labour market.”

Holland Bloorview, UHN, TDSB, Community Living Toronto and United Way Greater Toronto launched Project SEARCH Toronto in 2019. Since then, the program has trained and supported 66 students with disabilities (including the class of 2025/26) to move from school to work and adult life.

In total, 39% of graduates have been hired to temporary or permanent roles at UHN or Holland Bloorview and overall 73% of graduates (from the 2019/20 to the 2024/25 cohorts) obtained employment. This compares to employment rates of 54% for Canadian youth ages 15-24 (Labour Force Survey, July 2025) and ~25-30% for Canadians with intellectual disabilities and autism (Statistics Canada 2023).

Graduate Jordan O’Neal’s path included three co-op placements during Project SEARCH Toronto – learning clerical, materials management and linens/housekeeping skills. After the program, his first paid job was a contract role at Holland Bloorview working with clients and families to complete health equity surveys. Then he moved to a summer job with Joe Fresh. Now Jordan works at UHN as a Laundry Sorter & Washer. “I get the dirty linen carts on each floor and use a tow motor to bring them all down to the loading dock,” explains O’Neal. “I really like working and I take all the shifts I can.” 

Graduate Danial Young also landed a great job at UHN transporting patients to appointments. Graduate Mosiah Samuel-Dobson trained and now works at Holland Bloorview.

Holland Bloorview will continue to be an active partner in Project SEARCH Toronto at UHN. 

• Two Holland Bloorview skills trainers work with the students and the TDSB staff during the training year to coach students in learning job-specific and employability skills (funded from 2026-2028 by United Way Greater Toronto). 
• The hospital’s Employment Pathways team coordinates with the students, families and the staff of Project SEARCH and Community Living Toronto to help graduates find and start jobs after the training. 
• Some students may do co-op placements at Holland Bloorview in the Spring in future years.